to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

where you can see what makes America ...

America.

Here

we tell stories

through objects that shed light

on our triumphs

and our tragedies,

our aspirations

and our experiments-

national treasures

like President Lincoln's top hat,

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's inauguration gown,

Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves,

and Thomas Edison's lightbulb-

as well as more ordinary objects that illustrate the lives of everyday Americans.

At the center of the Museum

lies the Star-Spangled Banner,

the flag that was "still there"

after the bombardment

of Fort McHenry

in eighteen fourteen.

this very flag inspired Francis Scott Key

to write the poem

that would become our national anthem.

Elsewhere in the Museum,

take in the dramatic stories told in our transportation exhibits

about how we navigated seas and waterways,

traversed a vast country on the railroad,

and fell in love with our cars.

Reflect on the complex challenge of the American Presidency,

and the changing contributions of the First Ladies.

take a peek inside a Colonial-era home that tells

over two hundred years of history,

or size up Dorothy's ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

See a Vietnam era helicopter

and other military artifacts, from the revolution to the present day,

that remind us of the contributions made by America's armed forces.

Historywill come to life

as you learn how to prepare for a sit-in

at the iconic Woolworth's lunch counter

from Greensboro, North Carolina;

or help seamstress Mary Pickersgill assemble the giant Star-Spangled Banner.

Try your hand at a cotton gin

and view historic 3-D photos

at one of our hands-on carts.

Be sure to take a break

and enjoy the variety freshly prepared American foods

in our cafes,

and browse a wide selection of toys,

books,

and souvenirs in our stores.

There's a lot to do on a visit to the Museum

and it's all made possible by a team of expert staff and volunteers

that work hard behind the scenes

to collect,

preserve,

study,

interpret,

and present the millions of historical artifacts

in our collection.

The museum and it's collections belong to the American people-

and e hope you'll come visit.

We're located in the heart of Washington, D.C., on the National Mall.

Visit us online

at americanhistory.si.edu.

The National Museum of American History-

Real stories,

Real stuff.